Naslov
Identification of Skeletal Remains from Mass Graves: Ten-Year Experience of Our Work

Autori
Anđelinović, Šimun ; Sutlović, Davorka ; Erceg, Ivana ; Škaro, Vedrana ; Ivkošić, Ante ; Režić, Boja ; Definis-Gojanović, Marija ; Primorac, Dragan

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, stručni

Izvornik
Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences / - Chicago (IL), 2003

Skup
55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences

Mjesto i datum
Chicago (IL), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 17.02.2003. - 22.02.2003

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
identification; mass graves; STR

Sažetak
Significant efforts are currently underway to identify missing individuals discovered in mass graves (Figure 1) situated throughout Croatia and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the end of 1992 more than 15, 000 persons were missing in the Republic of Croatia as the result of the war. According to our records 9, 000 persons were killed. Up to date 3, 353 bodies were exhumed and 2, 745 bodies were identified. However, another 608 bodies have to be identified. During the last ten years more than 900 bodies found in several mass graves in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been identified in our Department by standard forensic methods. Unfortunately, common methods for human identification like direct facial recognition or recognition of special features, such as scars or marks ; matching of fingerprints, dentition and detailed examination of the clothing and belongings of the dead were not sufficient in approximately 30-35% of all cases and DNA identification was requested. The ability to analyze trace amounts of human DNA from old teeth and bone samples offers the opportunity to identify unknown skeletal remains by a comparative genetic analysis with their presumptive relatives. However, DNA degradation and DNA contamination is encountered frequently with DNA extracted from bone and teeth samples recovered from mass graves. Furthermore, the quality of DNA obtained from femur and teeth was higher than the one obtained from other types of bone samples. DNA isolation was performed using standard phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol procedure as well as some advanced methods. Some samples that failed to give results after second phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol extraction were subjected to additional procedures such as decalcification method with EDTA (ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid) prior to extraction of DNA and a NaOH repurification method. Recently, new procedures for DNA extraction (DNA IQ System) and DNA quantitation (AluQuant Human DNA Quantitation System) were successfully tested in our laboratory. During the last ten years, the following DNA identification systems were used: AmpliType PM+DQA1 PCR Amplification and Typing Kit, AmpFlSTR Profiler PCR Amplification Kit, AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit, PowerPlex 16 System, AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit, immobilized SSO (sequence-specific oligonucleotide) probes for the mitochondrial DNA control region and Y-Plex 6. At the beginning of the identification process, AmpliType PM+DQA1 PCR Amplification and Typing Kit was used and it proved unsuccessful in 75% of all cases. Common problems with this kit were either amplification difficulties or nonspecific hybridization that caused ubiquitous data. At the current time we are using two multiplex short tandem repeats (STR) systems (PowerPlex 16 System and AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit) which amplify sixteen loci including all CODIS core loci in a single reaction with great success. Up to date we have analyzed 400 samples by DNA methods and obtained full genotypes in 305 samples (76.25%) with DNA matches confirmed in 55 cases.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

POVEZANOST RADA